sgrizzle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia and Addiction
mackenziem12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Infertility, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, and Cancer
elissareadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, Bullying, Violence, Medical content, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Homophobia
katsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“She wanted Gee to know this music was for him, that irreverence and rage weren’t just for white boys."
“Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.”
I must be getting old because this is one of those books that I would never been able to enjoy five years ago. It is so realistic. The characters feel raw and real. They're lovable, yet utterly fallible. I felt like I was reading a memoir; that's how realistic it was. Following that vein, it also meant that there wasn't necessarily a big reveal or climax per se. I was honestly stunned when I turned the final page because I felt like it could just keep going and going. I think the reason this book was really compelling to me is because it explores so many of the subtle nuances of racism, even when it's internalized. It wasn't portrayed as this character fault that is eventually triumphed over. I could see pieces of the Ventura girls, and especially Lacey May in so many of my own relatives. This is the type of book that could be read in a classroom. There are so many layers.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Abortion, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit